Grow to Maturity

Prayer – Lord. You expect us to grow to maturity. We see fruits and vegetables that are at their height of maturity now during this harvest season. Show us what it means to be mature as Christians…and how to attain that goal. We praise You and thank you for leading us by example. 

Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11

 

Meditate. Consider maturity.

 

Are you a mature Christian?

            What does maturity mean in a Christian walk or Christian life? Paul wrote about growing to maturity. Can one instantly become “mature” or is it a process? The author of Hebrews challenges Christians to step up to the plate and not look to be spoon fed anymore. That’s the walk for some Christians—just to go to church and have someone read some scripture and the pastor preach. It is like being spoon fed or just having a glass of milk for their spiritual meal. No digging into the real meat of the scripture.

There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don't seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn't know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. Hebrews 5:11-14

Where are you at in your Christian walk? Do you read—really read—and study your Bible every day? Do you need someone to lead you through a study or can you discipline yourself to dig into God’s word and find meaning that you can apply to your life daily? We all know that we need exercise every day—and that includes exercising our spiritual body, too. Personally, I have to use self-control to discipline myself to continue to study daily—but there is no better way to spend time every morning…afternoon or evening…that really communing with God in His word. What is your choice today…study and become “mature” or just wait until someone can spoon feed you on Sunday?

 

Verse of Salvation ~ So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, "You must be holy because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:13-16

 

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

What food is on your plate today? Only milk and meat? How about some bread—and dip it in olive oil?

Olive oil was a mainstay in the diet and used for many things during Biblical times. Remember the story of Elijah who asked the widow of Zarephath to make him a loaf of bread—and then the flour and oil never ran out until the drought at that time was over? Read about it in 1 Kings 17. Amazing story.

Old Olive Trees
Garden of Gethsemane
Jerusalem, Israel

Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane on the night that He was betrayed. Gethsemane mean oil press. It was where olive trees grew and the oil was pressed out of the olives with a huge stone. Even today olives are pressed with the first pressing known as extra virgin olive oil. It is the purest. The olives are pressed again and that oil is labeled virgin olive oil. If a bottle that you purchase is not labeled as virgin olive oil, then it has been refined in some way, like heating it which can damage the structure of the oil and make it lose some of its health benefits.

Olive oil has been shown to decrease the LDL cholesterol level and increase the HDL cholesterol level. Heart disease is lower in countries around the world that consume more olive oil in their daily diet. You’ve probably read that one way to improve your health is to drink a tablespoon of olive oil a day. Glub-glub! I’ve tried it. The better the oil the easier it is to swallow!

One way to get your daily tablespoon is by dipping slices of French, Italian, or sour dough bread into some olive oil that has a splash balsamic vinegar and Italian herbs sprinkled on it. Yum! That is just what I plan to do to start a fun Italian dinner. I’ll be walking a lot tomorrow to walk off the bread and pasta of our Pasta Bar evening!

Happy Birthday Lisa!

Much Love and Blessing Today and Always!

 

© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

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